This is an unusual post to try and write, but since trolls love to hide behind the anonymity of their computer screens, they're harder to reach. I'm also an old fart, still optimistic that even the most miserable people can be turned just a little bit. Most of us have moments where we exhibit a little troll-like behavior, but we don't make it a habit.

What got me started on this topic today were a couple of so called artists who criticized a spotlight post with images by one of the industry's finest photographers. They weren't happy with just a comment about the images, but chose to suggest he look for work elsewhere.

If you're going to criticize somebody's images then at the very least make sure your images are better. With one critique, I was able to look at the originator's site and Molly the Wonder Dog could capture nicer images. The other was typically anonymous.

Learn to spell or, at the very least, proofread the trash you're about to publish. I had one comment that I still haven't figured out.

Build your own forum. Free speech is a wonderful comment, but my blog or somebody else's aren't free platforms for you to spout your views on anything but the topic at hand. You don't get to use our pages to rant about everything you feel is an injustice in the world.

STOP USING ALL CAPS TO MAKE A POINT. You don't need to yell. If it's a good point it'll be recognized as worthy and if not, then share it with your mother, who might be one of the few people still proud of you.

Last on the list, when we throw you out of a forum take a little responsibility for offending everybody around you. Stop whining and trying to rally everybody for your cause. Nobody cares! We've tossed out and blocked over 700 members on Facebook Wedding Photographers. These are people who simply never learned to play nice!

Here's the point...You made the decision to be a troll or act like one. And, while we all have moments where our frustrations get the best of us, not everybody chooses to make it a lifestyle. Maybe it's time to take down that poster of Oscar the Grouch you've had on your wall since you were a kid; he was never meant to be a role model.

Skip, i'm sure this was awkward to write, but I applaud you for having the courage to do so. I think you may have inadvertently touched on a much bigger issue that's going on in our society. The keyboard and anonymity has made everyone "powerful". The kid in class that was always told to sit down and be quiet finally has a voice. We all see the same thing in every forum, group, newsfeed or thread we look at. On an even bigger scale, we see it with racism, politics and of course the new hot button sexuality. The respectful and meaningful dialogue that can come from a face-to-face conversation goes out the window with the power of a few keystrokes and the send button.

Amen! I've kicked trolls out of groups many times (sometimes, after warning them nicely to refrain from disrespectful behavior, sometimes with no warning if they are particularly vicious. Some of them get so mad they start sending me emails through my website telling me how immature I am for kicking them out.

Like you, with the ones who are the most critical of others' work, I do notice that their work is usually awful, or that they are not even pro photographers but instead convenience store clerks who just like to trash the work of industry leaders. And the spelling and grammar... UGH.

I like this article. I am not sure most trolls realize they are trolls though (it's obviously everyone else who is the problem). And those who do realize, enjoy it so much they are unlikely to stop. Regardless, I do applaud your efforts! :)

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"Why?"

Check out"Why?" one of the most popular features on the SCU Blog.It's a very simple concept - one image, one artist and one short sound bite. Each artist shares what makes the image one of their most favorite. We're coming up on 100 artists featured since the project started. Click on the link above and you can scroll through all of the episodes to date.

Authors

Skip Cohen is President of SCU, founder of Marketing Essentials International and past president of Rangefinder Publishing and WPPI. He's been an active participant in the photographic industry since joining Hasselblad USA in 1987 as president. He has co-authored six books on photography and actively supports dozens of projects each year involving photographic education.

Scott Bourne

Scott Bourne was the first Dean of Marketing at SCU. He helped to establish this blog as a resource for aspiring and working professional photographers. He's an educator, artist, author and from time to time you'll see his name on guest posts that are always relevant to photography and marketing!